Volkswagen Sharan (10 on) - Review

It really is ‘so quiet’ in the new Sharan. Road roar from the tyres and wind noise is minimal because the cabin is so well insulated: the engine is barely audible at cruising speeds. The cabin is spacious and flagship and the standard-fit panoramic roof in the SEL adds to the bright and airy feel. All models are fitted with seven seats and all have raised sides to hold driver and passengers in place and in comfort. The Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) featuring electronically controlled pneumatic dampers makes its first appearance on the car and has certainly helped to improve the ride. There are three options to choose from depending on conditions – normal, comfort and sport - and will adjust the suspension settings to provide a firmer or softer ride depending on preference.

The Sharan can seat seven people but if you are carrying seven the seats at the very rear should be reserved for the smallest passengers because there's not much legroom available. The centre row features three individual seats and can be moved up to 160mm back and forth. Six of the seven seats can be folded flat which gives a cavernous load space - especially helpful when needing to move those larger items of furniture. Access to the rear seats is via a pair of sliding doors: this is the first time this feature has been available on the Sharan. The sliding doors and tailgate can be specified with electric motors so that they can be operated automatically. A six-seat version of the people carrier will be available and will be aimed at the business market.

As you would expect, the interior is of good quality. The plastics are soft to touch and the layout is just like any other VW passenger car - very logical. The controls are within easy reach of the driver and although the dials may not be overly stylish, they are easy to navigate. The driving position is good and the steering column adjusts for reach and height.